"The U.S. State Department said on Monday it might talk with Iran about promoting regional stability, noting it had been open to including Iran in past efforts to achieve a Syrian peace deal if Tehran had altered its policy," according to Reuters .

"But it drew a distinction between talking to Iran about issues beyond its nuclear program and actually working with Tehran on such matters, something Washington has ruled out... The White House suggested that it viewed the Iranian foreign minister's appeal as disingenuous, particularly regarding Yemen. The United States says Iran has armed Yemen's Houthi rebels, who have taken control of much of the country."

"The debate over regional unrest comes against the backdrop of negotiation between Iran and Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States on a deal to curb Iran's nuclear program in exchange for relief from economic sanctions. Sunni-ruled Gulf Arab states fear that an accord would let Iran devote more cash and energy to its Shi'ite proxies in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen, escalating those conflicts."